Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu directly challenged Trump, saying: "He signs his agreement, I have my own interests."
On the evening of June 15, 2026, local time, Netanyahu held his first formal press conference since March of that year, simultaneously releasing a video statement in which he made his core position clear: "Trump signs his agreement, Israel has its own security interests" (media summarized this as "He signs his deal, I have mine").
Netanyahu's firm stance stems largely from Israel’s deep sense of marginalization during these negotiations. He publicly emphasized that this agreement is "led by the U.S. President, not an Israeli agreement," and that Israel had no role in the talks and still hasn’t seen the full terms. Even more disheartening for Israeli leadership was that just one hour before the U.S.-Iran signing ceremony, Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut—prompting Trump to erupt in anger and unleash expletives. This treatment—being used as a tool without even being allowed to sit at the table—left Israel feeling betrayed by its ally, prompting Netanyahu to publicly reject the agreement as a form of protest.
Netanyahu’s bold defiance of Trump is rooted in deep domestic political calculations. On one hand, his ruling coalition heavily relies on far-right factions who are staunchly hawkish; if they accept a "soft" agreement, their core support base risks collapsing. On the other hand, Netanyahu faces corruption charges—so long as war continues, he can delay judicial proceedings under the guise of being a "wartime prime minister"; but once peace arrives, legal action will inevitably follow. Therefore, he not only needs ongoing conflict to bolster his electoral standing, but also must project an image of strength by daring to defy the United States, thus maintaining his reputation as a powerful political leader.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868166215132160/
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